Sealed ball transfer



Nov. 18, 1969 M. NOSENZO SEALED BALL TRANSFER Filed July 5, 1967 UnitedStates Patent US. CI. 1644 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sealedball transfer in which the main ball is resiliently mounted with respectto a housing, and in which the sealing means is snapped directly uponthe ball to move with the same under deflection.

This invention relates generally to the field of ball transfers, of atype in which a plurality of the same may be mounted upon a horizontalor other surface for the purpose of facilitating the sliding movement ofcontainers or other articles thereover. Devices of the instant type areknown in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructionaldetails which permit the obtaining of a sealed main ball which will berelatively impervious to the deleterious elfects of dirt, dust and otherforeign material, while yet permitting the ball to resiliently flexwithin a housing within which it is mounted, this end being obtained byforming the ball sealing means in such manner that it is independentwith respect to permissive movement of said housing.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide asealed ball transfer of the type described in which the sealing meansdirectly engages the main ball surface as a sliding fit, while not beingreadily disengaged with resilient axial flexing of the ball with respectto the housing in which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedsealed ball transfer, possessed of the above advantage, in which thecost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequentwide sale, distribution and use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedsealed ball transfer which may be conveniently fabricated using existingproduction techniques, and without resort to special skills.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedsealed ball transfer of the type described which, owing to its improvedconstructional features, may have a relatively long, trouble-free,useful life.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedsealed ball transfer in which the main ball is resiliently mounted withrespect to the housing in which it is installed, thereby permitting thedevice to offer shock cushioning properties not available in the priorart.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the relative ease ofassembly of the same during manufacture.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal central view of an embodiice ment of theinvention, as seen from the plane 11 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view, as seen from the left hand portionof FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a casing element 11, aresilient element 12, a ball unit element 13, and ball unit sealingmeans 14.

The casing element 11 is preferably formed from sheet metal drawings orstampings, and includes a lower orificed member 15, bounded by an outerperiphery 16, and including a planar member 17, a conical member 18interconnected thereto, and a planar inner member 19 having an orifice20 therein for accommodation of a main ball 21 of conventional type,preferably formed from carbon steel.

Interconnected with the member 15 is an upper orifice member 22,including a planar outer member 23, a cylindrically shaped member 24,and an orificed planar inner member 25 defining a circular opening 26which accommodates a spring housing 27.

The housing 27 includes an end wall 28, an upper cylindrical wall 29, aradially outwardly disposed flange 30, a lower cylindrical wall 31, anda radially inwardly directed. flange 32. An upper recess 33 accommodatesa compression spring 34, while a lower recess 35 accommodates the abovementioned ball unit element 13.

Rivet means 36 interconnects the members 15 and 22, sandwichingtherebetween a flexible orifice member 37 of neoprene or similarmaterial which forms part of the sealing means 14.

The ball unit element 13 includes an upper housing 38 enclosing aplurality of smaller ball bearings 39 maintained thereagainst, andagainst the inwardly disposed surface of the main ball 21 by a retainingmember 40. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the member 40 includes an upperportion 41 forming a ball-retaining trough 42, and a lower member 43which engages the upper surface 44 of the member 37, and defines anopening 45 co-extensive therewith.

The ball unit sealing means 14 also includes a molded nylon shield 46adapted to be snapped directly upon the ball 21 (FIGURE 3). It isbounded by a spheroidal inner peripheral surface 47, a lower outersurface 48, and a notched portion 4'9 which'accommodates, in addition tothe members 37 and 43, a spring steel ring 50 which, in effect, closesthe openings in the members 37 and 43.

It will be observed that under deflection, the entire ball unit element13 can flex between an outermost limit in Which the retaining member 40contacts the flange 32, and an innermost limit in which the upperhousing 38 contacts the flange 30. During the entire range of thisdeflection, the shield 46 will move with the ball 21, irrespective ofthe presence of simultaneous rotation of said ball.- Owing to the knifeedge formed by the meeting of the surface 48 and the surface 47, theball is constantly scraped clean of foreign material.

I wish it to be understoodthat I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a sealed ball transfer, a housing element, a ball unit elementmounted within said housing element for limited movement with respectthereto, along a principal axis thereof, resilient means urging saidball element to a limit of travel Within said housing in which said ballunit projects outwardly of said housing through an orifice therein; saidball unit including a main ball, a plurality of spherical bearingssupporting said ball, and a cup- 5 shaped member retaining saidspherical hearings in position; and means for preventing the entry offoreign material from the surface of said main ball, said meansincluding a shield of distortable material bounded by a semispheroidalinner surface corres onding to the outer surface of said main hall, andresiliently engaged therewith.

2. Structure in accordance With claim 1, including a flexible planarsealing member interconnecting said shield and said housing.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1964 GreatBritain.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

